When Al MacInnis was asked who the most skilled player he had ever faced was, many people counted on Wayne Gretzky as the answer.
But that did not happen.
Instead, the hard-shooting icon highlighted a Swede.
Al MacInnis was selected in the first round of the 1981 NHL Draft, and it would prove to be one of the luckiest picks in Calgary Flames history. MacInnis was best known for his insanely hard shot, but he could do more than just shoot.
Nobbed Gretzky himself
For many years, MacInnis was perhaps the best back in the world. During his total of 23 years in the league, he appeared in the NHL’s All-Star game on a whopping 12 occasions. MacInnis also won several powerful individual awards, such as the Conn Smythe and the Norris Trophy, and when he finished his career, he finished as the third best defenseman ever in goals, assists, and points.
During his many years in the NHL, MacInnis managed to play against some of the best players in NHL history. In the book “The Toughest I Ever Faced”, MacInnis was asked which of all the icons was actually the most skilled that he met. Many had expected the answer to be Wayne Gretzky, but instead MacInnis singled out a Swede.
READ MORE: When Pekka Lindmark was going to celebrate with a bottle of wine and received the most unexpected phone call of his career
The incomparable tribute
Kenta Nilsson played with Wayne Gretzky in the Edmonton Oilers, but is most associated with the Calgary Flames – and is thus the most skilled player that Al MacInnis had time to face. Kenta Nilsson was known for his skill with the puck on the stick, and it even earned him the delicious nickname Mr. Magic. When Nilsson scored his 300th NHL point, it was in his 215th game, and only six players in history had reached the milestone faster.
However, Kenta Nilsson himself has said that he could have been even better – if it were for other qualities than just skill.
– Talent is being able to do things with the puck as well, but it is also a talent to have driven. And maybe it wasn’t a talent I had, Kenta has said.
His teammate, Ken Houston, agreed.
– In my opinion, he was just as good as the dude up north (Wayne Gretzky)… When he wanted to.
READ MORE: The new tribute video to Henrik Zetterberg will give you goosebumps – now honored with the powerful appointment